Inlet Filter and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

An inlet filter and method of use are disclosed. In one aspect, the inlet filter comprises a frame, filter material, a feed stream inlet, and a filtrate outlet. The frame is configured so an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge. In another aspect, the method comprises inserting an inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet. The inlet filter can be one of a plurality of inlet filters inserted into the storm sewer inlet, the filters cooperating to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewer inlet. In a third aspect, a system comprises a plurality of inlet filters configured to be coupled together to filter a feed stream to a storm sewer inlet. The system can be configured so that the width of the plurality of filters is adjustable. For example, a first inlet filter and second inlet filter can be slidably engaged with a connecting filter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/923,943, filed on Jul. 8, 2020, titled “Inlet Filter and Method of Use,” published as U.S. Publication No. 2021-0301517 on Sep. 30, 2021. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/923,943 claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/831,606, filed on Mar. 26, 2020, titled “Inlet Filter and Method of Use,” now U.S. Pat. No. 11,180,380, issued on Nov. 23, 2021. All the applications, publications, and patents listed in this paragraph are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as examples.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates, for example, to a filter for an inlet to a storm water conduit. In some aspects, the present invention relates to a filter for a curb inlet to storm water conduit. Moreover, in some aspects, the present invention relates to a filter that is modular.

Description of Related Art

Some jurisdictions require construction sites to place filters at the inlet of curb-side storm drains to prevent debris, lose soil or other matter from flowing into a conduit for a storm water collection system.

Procedures for measuring the properties of filters are known and can be found in known test methods, for example ASTM D5261-10(2018), ASTM D4751-20, ASTM D4491/D4491M-17 available from ASTM international, which test methods are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as examples.

Existing options for filters, for example, bails of straw, rolls of a filter material, or bags full of sand or a filter material, include aspects that can be undesirable. For example, existing devices can lack the ability to remain installed in a storm sewer inlet for maintenance, lack modularity, lack the capability to easily fit storm drains having openings of different heights, widths and depths, lack desired ease of installation, lack the ability to intercept and retain smaller floatable debris, lack a combination of passing a high flow rate of water while retaining a high weight percentage of sediment over a selected size, lack an overflow outlet to reduce local flooding associated with heavy rain, lack the ability to retain a sufficient volume of material, lack the ability to intercept and retain smaller floatable material, lack the ability to provide a fit that is flush or nearly flush to an opening of a storm drain and thereby lack the ability to increase safety or decrease interference from pedestrian or automobile traffic, lack the ability to provide enhanced reduction of damage from contractors during development of a site protected by the filters, lack an enhanced ability to resist damage or UV degradation, lack desired durability, lack a desired strength, lack reusability, lack a reusable frame with a replaceable filter material, have a less than desirable life span, or have an undesirably high cost.

Accordingly, existing filters have undesirable characteristics and lack desirable features.

SUMMARY OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first embodiment, an inlet filter is provided. The inlet filter comprises a frame, filter material, a feed stream inlet, and a filtrate outlet. The feed stream inlet is configured to receive a feed stream, the feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid. The filtrate outlet is configured to discharge a filtrate stream comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream that passes through the filter material and any solid materials that pass through the filter material. The frame is configured so that an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge. The frame comprises a thick portion configured so that it is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle, and the frame comprises a narrow portion opposite the thick portion. The narrow portion of the frame is configured so that it is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle. The thick portion of the frame comprises the feed stream inlet.

In accordance with a second embodiment, a method of using an inlet filter is provided. The method comprises inserting an inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet. The inlet filter comprises components, the components comprising: a frame, filter material, feed stream inlet, filtrate outlet and frame. The feed stream inlet is configured to receive a feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid. The filtrate outlet is configured to discharge at least a portion of a filtrate stream comprising fluid from the feed stream that passes through the filter material and any solid materials that pass through the filter material. The frame is configured so that an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge, the frame comprising a thick portion configured so that it is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle and the frame comprising a narrow portion opposite the thick portion, the narrow portion configured so that it is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle. The thick portion of the frame comprises the feed stream inlet.

In accordance with a third embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of inlet filters configured to be coupled together to filter a feed stream to a storm sewer inlet. Each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters comprises a frame, filter material, a feed stream inlet, and a filtrate outlet. The feed stream inlet is configured to receive the feed stream, the feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid. The filtrate outlet is configured to discharge a filtrate stream comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream that passes through the filter material and any solid materials that pass through the filter material. The frame is configured so that an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge, the frame comprising a thick portion configured so that the thick portion is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle and the frame comprising a narrow portion opposite the thick portion, the narrow portion configured so that the narrow portion is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle. The thick portion of the frame comprises the feed stream inlet.

Other aspects, embodiments and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying figures are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical, or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration from the right side of an embodiment of an inlet filter installed in a storm sewer inlet for a storm sewer. FIG. 1 illustrates how a feed stream can enter the inlet filter, a filtrate stream can pass through a filter material and be discharged from the inlet filter to the storm sewer, a retentate can be retained by the inlet filter, and optionally, during an overflow condition, an elevated portion of the feed stream can be discharged to the storm sewer through an overflow outlet of the inlet filter without passing through the filter material.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration from the front and right side of an embodiment of an inlet filter with a retention structure, for example, mesh, being used in conjunction with the frame.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration from the right side, top and rear of the inlet filter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration from the rear, top and left of the inlet filter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration from the front, top and right side of an embodiment of an inlet filter without a retention structure, for example, mesh, being used in conjunction with the frame.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration from the right side, front and top of the inlet filter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration from the top and slightly to the right of the inlet filter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an inlet filter illustrating how a narrow portion of the inlet filter is thin enough to pass through a reference rectangle while a thick portion of the inlet filter is too thick to pass through the reference rectangle.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method for using at least one inlet filter.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration from the front and left of an embodiment of an inlet filter comprising a frame made from metal (e.g., aluminum) having apertures.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration from a left side, rear and top of the inlet filter of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration from the top, rear and left of the inlet filter of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration from the left, rear and top of the inlet filter of FIG. 10, illustrating how a filter cartridge that retains a filter material can be removed from the inlet filter, for example, through an aperture in a side or both sides of the inlet filter, so that the filter material can be installed, removed, replaced, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration depicting a filtering system with an adjustable width, the system being illustrated in a retracted configuration, and the system comprising a connecting filter, which can slide relative to a first inlet filter and a second inlet filter.

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration depicting the filtering system of FIG. 14 in an extended configuration.

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration depicting the filtering system of FIG. 14 in an separated configuration, in which the first inlet filter and the second inlet filter have been separated from the connecting filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, the inlet filters and methods described in the present application solve one or more problems or provide one or more advantages. For example, in some embodiments, the inlet filters have the ability to remain installed in a storm sewer inlet for maintenance, are modular, have the capability to easily fit storm drains having openings of different heights, widths and depths, have a desired ease of installation, have the ability to intercept and retain smaller floatable debris, pass a high flow rate of water while retaining a high weight percentage of sediment over a selected size, comprise an overflow outlet to reduce local flooding associated with heavy rain, have the ability to retain a sufficient volume of material (e.g., in an internal cavity of the inlet filter), have the ability to intercept and retain smaller floatable material, have the ability to provide a fit that is flush or nearly flush to an opening of a storm drain and thereby has the ability to increase safety or decrease interference from pedestrian or automobile traffic, have the ability to provide enhanced reduction of damage from contractors during development of a site protected by the filters, have an enhanced ability to resist damage or UV degradation, have desired durability, have a desired strength, are reusable, have a reusable frame with a replaceable filter material, have a desirable life span, have a sufficiently low cost, or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an inlet filter 0100 for a storm sewer inlet 0102 will now be described. The inlet filter 0100 comprises a frame 0104, filter material 0202, a feed stream inlet 0106, and a filtrate outlet 0124. The feed stream inlet 0106 is configured to receive a feed stream 0108, the feed stream 0108 comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid. The filtrate outlet 0124 is configured to discharge a filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter material 0202 and any solid materials that pass through the filter material 0202.

The frame 0104 is configured so that an exterior of the frame 0104 is shaped like a wedge, the frame 0104 comprising a thick portion 0110 configured so that it is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle 0802 and the frame 0104 comprising a narrow portion 0112 opposite the thick portion 0110. The narrow portion 0112 is configured so that it is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle 0802. As illustrated, the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprises the feed stream inlet 0106.

The filter material 0202 can be positioned along a bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and a portion of an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104. The portion of the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 being positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104 and adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104. As illustrated, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 can be positioned opposite the feed stream inlet 0106.

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the frame 0104 is configured to form an inner cavity 0120 within the frame 0104, and the inlet filter 0100 is configured to retain floatable solid materials in the inner cavity 0120.

In some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 comprises an overflow outlet 0302, and the overflow outlet 0302 is configured to allow an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 to be discharged from the inlet filter 0100 without passing through the filter material 0202. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprises a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filter material 0202.

With reference to FIG. 11, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 comprises an overflow inlet 1102, and the overflow inlet 0302 is configured to allow an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 to enter the inlet filter 0100 without passing through any filter material 0202, 1104, 1302 at the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprises a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top of the filter material 0202 located at the feed stream inlet of the inlet filter 0100. Additionally, although FIG. 11 illustrates a raised ridge 1302 of filter material (e.g., at least partially vertically oriented filter material) at the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter and downstream of the inlet filter (e.g. toward an insertion end 0118 of the inlet filter, under the overflow outlet 0302, or a combination thereof), this is not required. The overflow inlet 1102, the filter material 0202, 1104 (e.g., at least partially vertically oriented filter material or a ridge of filter material) at the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g. corresponding to and/or under the overflow inlet 1102), the overflow outlet 0302, or the filter material 0202, 1302 (e.g., at least partially vertically oriented filter material or a ridge of filter material) downstream of the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g., corresponding to and/or under) the overflow outlet 0302 can all appear in a single embodiment, or can be used independently or in any desired combination. For example, in some embodiments, an overflow inlet, an overflow outlet or both can be used in conjunction with a finer mesh or screen formed from apertures in the frame, as opposed to filter material. This finer mesh or screen can have apertures smaller (e.g., by length, width, or area) than the apertures of the overflow inlet or the overflow outlet, respectively. With reference now to FIG. 3 specifically and FIGS. 2 to 4 more generally, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the frame 0104 comprises spaced apertures 0304, and the inlet filter 0100 comprises an object retention structure 0306, which is configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter 0100. In some embodiments, at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 are smaller than an average size by area of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104.

With reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the filter material 0202 can be removed from the inlet filter 0100 and replaced with a replacement filter material 0202. In some embodiments, a user can remove the inlet filter though a storm sewer inlet while positioned beside a curb in which the storm sewer inlet is located. Additionally, in some embodiments, this can be accomplished without needing to open or enter a manhole corresponding to the storm sewer inlet.

With reference to FIG. 8, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the exterior of the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that an angle 0804 between a top exterior surface 0806 of the inlet filter 0100 and a bottom exterior surface 0808 of the inlet filter 0100 is from 15 to 45 degrees or any value or range of values contained within the range from 15 to 45 degrees.

With reference to FIG. 3 specifically, and FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 5 to 7 more generally, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the frame 0104 comprises spaced apertures, and at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 have an aperture length 0308 and an aperture width 0310 equal to 6 to 8 inches, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture, and the aperture width 0310 of the aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture.

In some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 comprises an object retention structure 0306, the object retention structure 0306 is configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter 0100 and can pass through the spaced apertures 0304 in the frame 0104.

With reference again to FIG. 3, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the frame 0104 comprises spaced apertures 0304, and at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures 0304 have an aperture length 0308 and an aperture width 0310 equal to 1 to 5 inches, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture 0304 being the longest distance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture 0304, and the aperture width 0310 being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture 0304.

With reference now to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 comprises a filter cartridge 0134 configured to retain the filter material 0202. In some embodiments, the filter cartridge is configured so that the filter material 0202 can be replaced by a user 0136 while the inlet filter 0100 is positioned in an operational configuration, which is a configuration in which the inlet filter 0100 could operate if the filter material 0202 were operably installed to filter the feed stream 0108. In some embodiments, the filter cartridge 0134 is configured so that the filter material 0202 can be replaced by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102 while the inlet filter 0100 is installed in the storm sewer inlet 0102.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 comprises a lock 0132. The lock 0132 is configured to prevent removal of the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102 while the lock 0132 is in a locked configuration.

With further reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the inlet filter 0100 remains in an operative location at least partially in the storm sewer inlet 0102 while operating to filter the feed stream 0108 entering the storm sewer inlet 0102. For example, when it rains, water can rush into the storm sewer inlet and push against the inlet filter as the water is filtered. Nonetheless, the shape of the inlet filter, which is thicker toward one end and narrower toward the other end, will resist being pushed further into the storm sewer because the thicker portion of the inlet filter is too large to pass through the storm sewer inlet.

In some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the filter material 0202 comprises a non-woven geotextile fabric. Although, essentially any filter material can be used so that the size of particles or objects filtered by the filter material and the mass or volumetric flow rate of water flowing through an area of the filter material (e.g., the flux of water) can be tailored to desired specifications. To illustrate, in some embodiments, the filter material is a non-woven geotextile fabric that has a weight per area equal to 3.1 to 3.5 ounces per square yard. An examples is the Mirafi® 135N needle punched nonwoven geotextile composed of polypropylene fibers that are formed into a stable network so the fibers retain their relative positions. The geotextile has a weight of 3.4 ounces per square yard, an apparent opening size of 0.30 mm (US Sieve # 50) and a flow rate of 155 gallons per minute per square foot (gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2). In some embodiments, the filter material is a monofilament fabric.

Now, with reference to FIG. 9, an embodiment of a method 0900 for using an inlet filter will now be described. The method can comprise two steps. A first step comprises inserting 0902 an inlet filter 0100 into a storm sewer inlet 0102. The optional second step, which can occur after the first step, comprises using 0904 the at least one inlet filter 0100 to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewer inlet 0102. The inlet filter can be any inlet filter described in this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the method comprises inserting a plurality of inlet filters 0100 into the storm sewer inlet 0102. The step of inserting a plurality of inlet filters into the storm sewer inlet comprises the step of inserting 0902 the inlet filter 0100 into the storm sewer inlet 0102, and the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprises the inlet filter 0100 and at least one additional inlet filter 0100. In some embodiments, the inlet filter 0100 comprises specified components and each of the at least one additional inlet filter 0100 comprising corresponding components that correspond to the specified components of the inlet filter 0100. In other words, each of the inlet filters in the plurality of inlet filters can comprise all of the components and features of the inlet filter 0100. Moreover, the components of each of the plurality of the inlet filters can be configured (e.g., positioned, oriented, arranged relative to each other, or any combination thereof) as the components of the inlet filter 0100 are configured. Accordingly, it is evident that the inlet filter 0100 can be modular. For example, several of the inlet filters can be placed adjacent to each other, can be placed side-by-side, can partially overlap, can be coupled together, connected or otherwise work together to filter a feed stream to a storm sewer inlet. This can be especially helpful when one inlet filter is not wide enough to cover the entire inlet to a storm sewer inlet. It is also advantageous that the thickness 0810 (e.g., the thickness of a cross-section of the inlet filter (e.g., frame)) can decrease (e.g., gradually decrease) from the front (where the feed stream inlet is located) to the rear (which protrudes into the storm sewer inlet), which means that the inlet filter can be used with storm sewer inlets of different heights. Accordingly, the inlet filter has the ability to be stacked modularly with other inlet filters to be able to cover (or at least mostly or almost completely cover) the open area of storm sewer inlets with various heights and widths, and therefore filter (or at least mostly or almost completely filter), a feed stream (e.g., water and any solid objects carried by the water) entering the various storm sewer inlets. For example, in some embodiments, an inlet filter or a plurality of inlet filters working together can cover at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% and up to 100% by area of the open area of a storm sewer inlet.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, in some embodiments of a method of using the inlet filter, the inlet filter 0100 comprises a lock 0132, and the method comprises locking the lock 0132 of the inlet filter 0100 so that the inlet filter 0100 cannot be removed from the storm sewer inlet 0102. An example of a lock 0132 in a locked configuration is illustrated by the solid line in FIG. 8. The method can also comprise unlocking the lock 0132 of the inlet filter 0100 so that the inlet filter 0100 can be removed from the storm sewer inlet 0102. An example of a lock 0132 in an unlocked configuration is illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 8.

With further reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, in some embodiments of the method of using the inlet filter, the inlet filter 0100 comprises a filter cartridge 0134, and the filter cartridge retains the filter material 0202. The method can comprise opening 0906 the filter cartridge of the inlet filter 0100 and replacing 0908 the filter material 0202 through the storm sewer inlet 0102.

With reference again to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, in some embodiments of the method of using the inlet filter, the method comprises using 0904 the inlet filter 0100 for filtering the feed stream 0108 entering the storm sewer inlet 0102. The filtering step can comprise several steps. A first step comprises using the feed stream inlet 0106 to receive the feed stream 0108, which comprises a fluid (e.g., storm water, solvents, industrial chemicals, automotive oil, gasoline, or any combination thereof) and the solid materials (e.g., debris, dirt, trash or any combination thereof) carried by the fluid.

A second step comprises using the filter material 0202 to filter the feed stream 0108, thereby providing the filtrate stream 0126 comprising the fluid and the solid materials that can pass through the filter material 0202 and a retentate 0138 comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the filter material 0202.

A third step comprises discharging the filtrate stream 0126.

A fourth step comprises retaining solid materials in the retentate 0138 in an inner cavity 0120 of the inlet filter 0100.

In some embodiments, the inlet filter 0100 can be configured so that during an overflow condition wherein the top of the feed stream 0108 is at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202, the inlet filter 0100 discharges an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 through at least one aperture 0304 in the inlet filter 0100. The elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprises a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filter material 0202. The at least one aperture 0304 can be configured to pass smaller objects in the solid materials (e.g., soil, bottle caps or a combination thereof) and retain larger objects (e.g., bottles) in the solid materials.

With reference to FIGS. 10-14, in some embodiments an inlet filter 0100 can comprise a frame and a removable filter cartridge 0134 that can be coupled to the frame 0104. As illustrated, the filter cartridge can be configured to retain a filter material 0202 in an operative configuration with respect to the inlet filter 0100. As can be seen, in some embodiments, the filter material 0202 can be located at the bottom of the inlet filter 0100. In some embodiments, a portion of the filter material (e.g., a ridge 1302 of filter material) can be configured to direct fluid in the feed stream through the filter material). In some embodiments, the entirety of the filter material can slope upwardly away from a feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter. In some embodiments, a portion of the filter material (e.g., a ridge 1302 of filter material) can extend upwardly, for example, extending to an upper portion 0116 of the frame in a narrower portion 0112 of the frame at the rear of the inlet filter. The filter material can also extend upwardly at a feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter. For example, this can be useful to retain solid materials (e.g., sediment, debris, smaller objects, larger objects, or any combination thereof) in the feed stream, for example, outside the inlet filter, at or adjacent to an entrance to the storm sewer inlet, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the filter material does not comprise a portion of the filter material that extends upwardly, but the inlet filter can nonetheless be configured so that the feed stream entering the inlet filter 0100 is directed through the filter material 0202, which can be retained by the inlet filter in a cartridge (optionally retained in an internal cavity of the inlet filter), and which cartridge can be removably coupled to the inlet filter. As a skilled person would understand upon reading this disclosure, various configurations of the inlet filter 0100 can be used to direct the fluid in a feed stream through the filter material when the inlet filter is not operating under an overflow condition.

With reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, in some embodiments of an inlet filter (for example, in any embodiment of the inlet filter for which it is desired), the apertures 0304 in the frame can be offset. This can be useful to help direct the fluid in the feed stream through the filter material in the absence of an overflow condition, for example, as opposed to simply flowing through the inlet filter without passing through the filter material. As an example of offset apertures in the frame, the apertures forming a part of the feed stream inlet (e.g., at the front of the inlet filter) and the apertures forming a part of the filtrate outlet, the overflow outlet, or a combination thereof (e.g., apertures located rearwardly or downstream of the feed stream inlet) can be configured so that fluid (e.g., water) in a feed stream entering the filter through the feed stream inlet will flow into a blocking portion of the frame located rearwardly or downstream of the feed stream inlet if an overflow condition does not exist. This is in contrast to a design where the fluid in the feed stream that enters an aperture at the front of the inlet filter could flow straight through the inlet filter and out of an aperture toward the rear of the inlet filter without being filtered, even though an overflow condition does not exist. To provide a further example, the apertures in the front and rear of the frame can be configured so that for at least one aperture (e.g., one and only one, a plurality of apertures, at least a portion of the apertures by area, at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and up to 100% of the apertures by area, each of the apertures, or any combination thereof) located at the front of the frame (e.g., where the feed stream inlet is located in the thicker portion of the frame), a straight line parallel to the bottom surface of the frame and extending from the front of the frame toward the rear of the frame (e.g., adjacent to the narrower portion of the frame) does not intersect an edge of the at least one aperture in the front of the frame and a corresponding edge of a corresponding aperture toward the rear of the frame. In additional embodiments, the inlet filter can comprise baffles, for example, to accomplish an effect similar to the effect of apertures in the front of the inlet filter being offset from apertures toward the rear of the inlet filter.

In some embodiments, the filtrate outlet of an inlet filter can be formed by at least one aperture in the frame (e.g., one and only one aperture or plurality of apertures adjacent to the filter material), at least one aperture (e.g., one and only one aperture or plurality of apertures adjacent to the filter material) in a filter cartridge, or a combination thereof. The apertures forming a part of the feed stream inlet (e.g., at the front of the inlet filter) can be relatively larger than at least some of the apertures that form a part of the overflow outlet. In some embodiments, some of the apertures forming a part of the overflow outlet are relatively larger apertures 1202 when compared to other relatively smaller apertures 1204 that form a part of the overflow outlet. In some embodiments of the inlet filter 0100, relatively higher apertures forming a part of the overflow outlet are relatively larger apertures 1202 when compared to relatively lower apertures (e.g., relatively smaller apertures 1204) that form a part of the overflow outlet. As an additional example, a relatively larger aperture can have a larger aperture 1202 length, aperture width, aperture area, or any combination thereof when compared to a relatively smaller aperture 1204. In some embodiments, the relatively larger apertures can be shaped like a rectangle (optionally rectangle with its longest side oriented vertically), the relatively smaller apertures can be shaped like a circle, or any combination thereof . In some embodiments of the inlet filter 0100, relatively higher apertures are relatively larger apertures 1202 when compared to relatively lower apertures (e.g., relatively smaller apertures 1204).

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration from the left and top of the inlet filter of FIG. 10, illustrating how a filter cartridge 0134 that retains a filter material 0202 can be removed from the inlet filter, for example, through an aperture 1304 in a side or apertures 1304 in both sides of the inlet filter 0100, so that the filter material 0202 can be installed, removed, replaced, or any combination thereof

The frame and/or filter cartridge can be made from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the frame and/or filter cartridge can be made from a single sheet of material (e.g., metal, aluminium, a polymer, etc.) having at least one aperture 0304 (e.g., a plurality of apertures). When the sheet is made from metal (e.g., sheet metal), the metal can be perforated to form the apertures and folded to form the frame and/or filter cartridge. If the frame and/or filter cartridge is made from metal wire, the frame and/or filter cartridge can comprise apertures as a result of the spacing between wires that make up the frame and/or filter cartridge. If the frame and/or filter cartridge is made from any moldable material (e.g., metal, polymer, etc.), the frame and/or filter cartridge can be molded to have a desired shape comprising the at least one aperture (e.g., plurality of apertures).

With reference to FIGS. 14 to 16 and previously discussed FIGS. 1 and 8, in some embodiments, a system comprises a plurality of inlet filters 0100 configured to be coupled together to filter a feed stream 0108 to a storm sewer inlet 0102. Each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100 can comprise a frame 0104, filter material 0202, a feed stream 0108, and a filtrate outlet 0124.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 1, the feed stream inlet 0106 is configured to receive the feed stream 0108, the feed stream 0108 comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid.

The filtrate outlet 0124 is configured to discharge a filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter material 0202 and any solid materials that pass through the filter material 0202.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the frame 0104 is configured so that an exterior of the frame 0104 is shaped like a wedge. The frame 0104 comprises a thick portion 0110 configured so that the thick portion 0110 is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle 0802 and the frame 0104 comprises a narrow portion 0112 opposite the thick portion 0110, the narrow portion 0112 configured so that the narrow portion 0112 is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle 0802, and the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprises the feed stream inlet 0106.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a connecting filter 1402 comprising a first side portion 1408 and a second side portion 1410 opposite the first side portion. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first side portion 1408 appears to be a portion adjacent to the left side of the connecting filter 1402, and the second side portion 1410 appears to be a portion adjacent to the right side of the connecting filter 1402; however, this is not required, and can be reversed in some embodiments. Accordingly, the depiction in FIG. 14 is for purposes of illustration.

With further reference to FIG. 14, the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprises a first inlet filter 1404 and optionally a second inlet filter 1406. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first inlet filter 1404 appears to be engaged with the left side portion of the connecting filter 1402, and the second inlet filter 1406 appears to be engaged with the right side portion of the connecting filter 1402; however, this is not required, and can be reversed in some embodiments. Accordingly, the depiction in FIG. 14 is for purposes of illustration.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402 is configured to be coupled to the first inlet filter 1404 and optionally to slidably engage the first inlet filter 1404.

Similarly, the second side portion 1410 of the connecting filter 1402 can be configured to be coupled to the second inlet filter 1406 and optionally to slidably engage the second inlet filter 1406.

With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, in some embodiments, the system configured so that, when (i) the first inlet filter 1404 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402, then the first inlet filter 1404 and the connecting filter 1402 form a combined inlet filter 1412 having a width 1414. Optionally the width 1414 is adjustable to a first width from 7 to 9 feet and a second width from 10.25 to 12.25 feet with the first width being smaller than the second width. Optionally the width 1414 is adjustable to a first width from 4 to 6 feet and a second width from 7.25 to 9.25 feet with the first width being smaller than the second width. Additionally, in some embodiments, the width is adjustable by sliding the first inlet filter 1404 relative to the connecting filter 1402. In some embodiments, the connecting filter can have a width of 39 inches +/−10, 20 or 30%. In some embodiments, the first inlet filter and the second inlet filter can each have a width of 30 inches +/−10, 20 or 30%. In some embodiments, the first inlet filter and the second inlet filter can each have a width of 48 inches +/−10, 20 or 30%.

With further reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, in some embodiments, the system configured so that, when (i) the first inlet filter 1404 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402 and (ii) the second inlet filter 1406 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with a second side portion 1410 of the connecting filter 1402, then the first inlet filter 1404, the connecting filter 1402, and the second inlet filter 1406 form a combined inlet filter 1412 having a width 1414. Optionally the width 1414 is adjustable to a first width from 7 to 9 feet and a second width from 10.25 to 12.25 feet with the first width being smaller than the second width. Optionally the width 1414 is adjustable to a first width from 4 to 6 feet and a second width from 7.25 to 9.25 feet with the first width being smaller than the second width. In some embodiments, the width is adjustable by sliding the first inlet filter 1404 relative to the connecting filter 1402, sliding the second inlet filter 1406 relative to the connecting filter 1402 or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments of the system, the connecting filter 1402 is an inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters 0100.

In some embodiments, the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 can be configured so that a lower surface 1502 of a top portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 can be spaced from an upper surface 1504 of a top portion of the frame 0104 of the first inlet filter 1404, an upper surface 1506 of a top portion of the frame of the second inlet filter 1406, or any combination thereof. This can facilitate slidability of the connecting filter 1402 relative to the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406 or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments of the system, a frontal top portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 is separable from a front portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 to provide a discontinuity in the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402. The frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 can comprise a flexible material configured to permit the frontal top portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 to be moved away from the front portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402, which can facilitate the slidability of the first inlet filter or the second inlet filter relative to the connecting filter.

In some embodiments, the connecting filter 1402 is configured to only partially wrap around the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the connecting filter 1402 is configured to completely wrap around the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406, or any combination thereof. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, a side portion of the connecting filter can completely or partially wrap around and receive a side portion of the first inlet filter or the second inlet filter.

In some embodiments, the system is configured to provide a combined inlet filter. For example, when (i) the first inlet filter 1404 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402 and optionally (ii) the second inlet filter 1406 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with a second side portion 1410 of the connecting filter 1402, then the first inlet filter 1404, and the connecting filter 1402 and optionally the second inlet filter 1406 can form a combined inlet filter.

With reference to FIG. 14, in some embodiments of the system, the combined inlet filter comprises a combined frame 0104, combined filter material 0202, a combined feed stream inlet 0106, and a combined filtrate outlet 0124.

With reference to FIGS. 14 to 16 and FIG. 1, the combined feed stream inlet 0106 is configured to receive a combined feed stream 0108, the combined feed stream 0108 comprising a combined fluid and combined solid materials carried by the combined fluid.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 16 and FIG. 1, the combined filtrate outlet 0124 is configured to discharge a combined filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the combined fluid in the combined feed stream 0108 that passes through the combined filter material 0202 and any combined solid materials that pass through the combined filter material 0202.

With reference again to FIGS. 14 to 16 and also FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the combined frame 0104 is configured so that a combined exterior of the combined frame 0104 is shaped like a wedge. Accordingly, the combined frame 0104 can comprise a combined thick portion 0110 configured so that the combined thick portion 0110 is too thick to pass through a specific reference rectangle 0802 and the combined frame 0104 can comprise a combined narrow portion 0112 opposite the combined thick portion 0110. The combined narrow portion 0112 can be configured so that the combined narrow portion 0112 is thin enough to be inserted into the specific reference rectangle 0802.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the combined thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprises the combined feed stream inlet 0106.

In some embodiments of this disclosure, any inlet filter 0100 can include any feature or any combination of features described with reference to any inlet filter or any combination of inlet filters disclosed in this disclosure.

In some embodiments of this disclosure, each inlet filter 0100 in a plurality of inlet filters can include any feature or any combination of features described with reference to any inlet filter or any combination of inlet filters disclosed in this disclosure.

As a skilled person would understand, any inlet filter, plurality of inlet filters, systems, portions thereof or combination thereof described in this disclosure can be used in a method. For example, the method can comprise several steps.

A first step can comprise inserting at least one inlet filter, a system, or a combined inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet 0102. Optionally, the combined inlet filter comprises a connecting filter 1402, a plurality of inlet filters 0100, a first inlet filter 1404, a second inlet filter 1406, at least one inlet filter or any combination thereof

A second option step can comprise adjusting (e.g., extending or retracting or any combination thereof) the width of the at least one inlet filter, the system or the combined inlet filter. Optionally, the adjusting the width comprises and occurs as a result of sliding the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406 or any combination thereof relative to the connecting filter 1402. Optionally, the adjusting (e.g., extending or retracting or any combination thereof) the width of the combined inlet filter occurs after the system or the combined inlet filter has been inserted into the a storm sewer inlet 0102.

In some embodiments, the system or the combined inlet filter is configured to cover at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99 wt. % and up to 100 wt. % by width or area) of the width or cross-sectional area of the a storm sewer inlet 0102. In other words, the system is designed to effectively cover a portion of (or even all of) a width or a cross section of the open area of the inlet through which fluid is intended to pass into a storm sewer. Optionally, the cross-sectional area is taken in a plane parallel to a feed inlet surface of the system or the combined inlet filter. Optionally the cross-sectional area is taken in a direction perpendicular to the average direction by mass flow rate from which fluid is intended to flow into the a storm sewer inlet 0102, the system, the combined inlet filter, or any combination thereof.

Additional Embodiments

The following clauses include descriptive embodiments that are offered as further support of the disclosed invention:

1. An inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter comprising:

a frame 0104;

filter material 0202;

a feed stream inlet 0106; and

a filtrate outlet 0124;

the frame configured so an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge;

the frame comprising a thick portion and a narrow portion opposite the thick portion;

the thick portion of the frame comprising the feed stream inlet;

the inlet filter configured so that a fluid in the feed stream is directed through the filter material;

the filter material (e.g., a portion of the filter material, most of the filter material, or all of the filter material) being positioned along a bottom surface of the frame;

inlet filter 0100 (e.g., configured to filter at least a portion of a feed stream 0108 that enters the inlet filter 0100, retain a retentate 0138 and discharge a filtrate stream 0126; optionally the retentate 0138 comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the inlet filter 0100, the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter material and any solid materials that pass through the filter material (e.g., dissolved solids, solids smaller than pores of the filter material, or any combination thereof), or any combination thereof);

the filter material (e.g., a portion of the filter material, less than half of the filter material, or all of the filter material) being positioned along a portion of an upper surface of the frame that is opposite the feed stream inlet in the narrow portion of the frame;

or

any combination thereof.

2. An inlet filter 0100 (e.g., for a storm sewer inlet 0102, the storm sewer inlet 0102 being located in a curb), (optionally the inlet filter 0100 comprising components), the inlet filter 0100 (or the components of the inlet filter 0100) comprising:

a frame 0104; and

filter material 0202 (e.g., configured to filter at least a portion of a feed stream 0108 that enters the inlet filter 0100, retain a retentate 0138 and discharge a filtrate stream 0126; optionally the retentate 0138 comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the filter material 0202, the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter material 0202 and any solid materials that pass through the filter material 0202 (e.g., dissolved solids, solids smaller than pores of the filter material 0202 or any combination thereof), or any combination thereof);

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a feed stream inlet 0106, a filtrate outlet 0124, optionally an overflow inlet 1102 and optionally an overflow outlet 0302;

optionally, the frame 0104 being wedge-shaped.

3. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the feed stream inlet 0106 configured to receive a feed stream 0108 comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid;

the filtrate outlet 0124 configured to discharge at least a portion of a filtrate stream 0126 (e.g., some or all of the filtrate stream 0126, the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of a filtrate stream 0126 comprising fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., filter material 0202) and any solid materials that pass through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the filter material 0202 of the inlet filter 0100);

the filtrate outlet 0124 configured to discharge at least a portion of a filtrate stream 0126 comprising fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the filter material 0202) and any solid materials that pass through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the filter material 0202 of the inlet filter 0100);

the overflow outlet 0302 configured to allow an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 to be discharged from the inlet filter 0100 without passing through the filter material 0202, the elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprising a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filter material 0202;

the feed stream inlet 0106 comprising a frame feed stream opening in the frame 0104;

the filtrate outlet 0124 comprising a frame 0104 filtrate opening in the frame 0104;

the overflow outlet 0302 comprising a frame 0104 overflow opening;

the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g., frame feed stream opening) configured to cover at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99 wt. % and up to 100 wt. % by area) of the cross-sectional area of the storm sewer inlet 0102, optionally, the cross-sectional area is taken in a plane parallel to a feed inlet surface of the frame 0104 that comprises the frame feed stream opening; optionally the cross-sectional area taken in a direction perpendicular to the average direction by mass flow rate from which fluid is intended to flow into the storm sewer inlet 0102, the inlet filter 0100, or a combination thereof;

the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g., frame feed stream opening) configured to receive at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99 wt. % and up to 100 wt. % by mass or volumetric flow rate) of a feed stream 0108 flowing into a storm sewer inlet 0102;

the frame 0104 being configured so that an exterior (e.g., the external surfaces) of the frame 0104 is wedge-shaped (e.g., shaped like a wedge, shaped like the exterior of a triangular prism, or any combination thereof), the frame 0104 (e.g., the shape of the wedge) comprising a thick portion 0110 configured so that it is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle 0802 (e.g., corresponding to the storm sewer inlet 0102) or the storm sewer inlet 0102 (e.g., configured to be too thick to pass through a reference rectangle 0802, which can be the size of the storm sewer inlet 0102; configured to have a thickness 0810 (e.g., maximum thickness) that is greater than the distance between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102; configured to be retained by, restricted by, secured relative to, immobilized relative to, fixed in position relative to, or lodged in the storm sewer inlet 0102, or any combination thereof; or configured to be retained by opposite inner surfaces of, secured relative to, immobilized relative to, fixed in position relative to, or lodged in the storm sewer inlet 0102, or any combination thereof; or any combination thereof), and the frame 0104 comprising a narrow portion 0112 opposite the thick portion 0110, the narrow portion 0112 configured so that it is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle 0802 (e.g., corresponding to the storm sewer inlet 0102) or the storm sewer inlet 0102 (e.g., configured to be too thin enough to pass through the reference rectangle 0802; configured to have a thickness 0810 (e.g., maximum thickness) that is equal to or less than the distance between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102; configured to be able to pass through the storm sewer inlet 0102; configured to pass through or between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102; or any combination thereof); the reference rectangle 0802 being perpendicular to a bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); the reference rectangle 0802 being parallel to an entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) where the feed stream inlet 0106 is located; the reference rectangle 0802 being parallel to a bottom of entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) where the feed stream inlet 0106 is located; the reference rectangle 0802 being vertical when the bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) is horizontal; or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter (e.g., frame) having a length 0812 (e.g., maximum length) equal to 48 inches, equal to at least 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, or 84 inches, no more than 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 84 or 96 inches, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter (e.g., frame) having a width 0814 (e.g., maximum width) equal to 14 inches, equal to at least 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, or 120 inches, no more than 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120 or 132 inches, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter (e.g., frame) having a thickness 0810 (e.g., maximum thickness) equal to 7.5 inches, equal to at least 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, or 13.5 inches, no more than 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5 or 14.5 inches, or any combination thereof;

the length 0812 (e.g., maximum length, for example, for any shape with a length that varies) of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) being: the longest distance between any two points on the bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that the inlet filter is configured to be inserted into the storm sewer inlet (e.g., a direction from the thick portion of the frame toward the narrow portion of the frame); measured in a horizontal plane when the bottom surface of the inlet filter is oriented horizontally; the longest distance between any two points on the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that is parallel to one or both planes tangent to either or both sides of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); the longest distance between any two points on the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that is parallel to a bisection plane that bisects the angle between a plane tangent to the left side of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) and a frame tangent to the right side of the inlet filter; the longest distance between any two points on the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that the inlet filter is configured to be inserted into the storm sewer inlet (e.g., a direction from the thick portion of the frame toward the narrow portion of the frame); the longest distance between any two points on the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that is perpendicular to an entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) where the feed stream inlet is located (e.g., a direction from the thick portion of the frame toward the narrow portion of the frame); measured in a horizontal plane while the inlet filter is in use; or any combination thereof;

the thickness 0810 being: the height of a cross-section of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); the cross-section being oriented in a direction perpendicular to the length (e.g., maximum length) of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); the height of the cross-section of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) measured from a bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a vertical direction where the height is being measured while the bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) rests on a horizontal surface); the height of the cross-section of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) as measured from a bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface where the height is being measured; or any combination thereof;

the width 0814 (e.g., maximum width, for example, for any shape with a width that varies) of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) being the longest distance between any two points on the inlet filter (e.g., frame frame) as measured: in a direction that is perpendicular to the length of the inlet filter and the thickness of the inlet filter; in a direction that is perpendicular to a length of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); from one side to an opposite side of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); in a direction parallel to the entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) where the feed stream inlet is located; in a direction that is parallel to the bottom of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); in a direction that is horizontal and being measured while the inlet filter is in use; in a horizontal plane when the bottom surface of the inlet filter is oriented horizontally; or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 being configured to form an inner cavity 0120 within the frame 0104;

the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprising a feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g., the feed stream inlet 0106), the feed stream inlet 0106 comprising at least one opening;

the feed stream inlet 0106 being configured to permit a fluid and solids (e.g., soil, debris, construction materials or any combination thereof) carried by the fluid (e.g., water, rain, chemicals, solvents, oil, or any combination thereof) to flow into the at least one opening;

the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 is adjacent to a feed inlet end of the frame 0104;

the thin portion of the frame 0104 is adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 (e.g., configured to be inserted into the storm sewer inlet 0102);

the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 is opposite the feed inlet end of the frame 0104;

the filter material 0202 being coupled (e.g., removably coupled, removably fixed, removably attached or any combination thereof) to the frame 0104, the filter material 0202 configured to permit the fluid to pass through the filter material 0202 (e.g., so that the fluid can pass through the inlet filter 0100, through the storm sewer inlet 0102, into a downstream portion of the storm sewer 0130, or any combination thereof), the filter material 0202 configured to retain solids larger than a specific size;

the filter material 0202 being positioned within the frame 0104;

the frame 0104 comprising a bottom, the bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 comprising the filter material 0202;

the frame 0104 comprising an upper surface, the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 being adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 being opposite the feed stream inlet 0106, the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 comprising the filter material 0202;

the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104, the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 being adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 (e.g., positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104) being opposite the feed stream inlet 0106;

the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and a portion of an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104, the portion of the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 being positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104 and adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 (e.g., positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104) being opposite the feed stream inlet 0106;

the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 adjacent to the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 (e.g., positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104); or

any combination thereof.

4. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure);

the object retention structure 0306 configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter 0100;

the object retention structure 0306 configured to hold or retain the filter material 0202 against the frame 0104;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising, consisting essentially of, consisting of or being made of metal, metal alloy, wire, fiber, rope, cable, polymer, netting or any combination thereof (e.g., metal wire or 22 gauge metal wire netting, for example, which can be used for poultry netting);

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising spaced apertures, at least one, at least 50%, 60, 70, 80, or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 by area, some of or all of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 or on average the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 having a smaller cross-sectional open area, a smaller aperture length 0308, a smaller aperture width 0310, or any combination thereof, when compared to at least one, the smallest, the largest, some of or all of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 or the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 on average;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures; the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306; the object retention structure 0306 configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter 0100; at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 are smaller than the average size of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104; or any combination thereof;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures or the spaced apertures on average have a cross-sectional open area of 9 square inches, or at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 square inches, no more than 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 square inches, or any combination thereof;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture length 0308 of 3 inches, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) that bound the aperture;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture width 0310 of 3 inches, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture width 0310 of an aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) that bound the aperture;

a portion of the filter material 0202 is positioned (e.g., clamped, fixed, squeezed, sandwiched or any combination thereof) between the frame 0104 and the object retention structure 0306;

the filter material 0202 comprises one and only one continuous piece of material;

the filter material 0202 comprises a plurality of pieces of material;

the filter material 0202 is configured to extend across at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of a bottom surface area of the frame 0104, the inlet filter 0100 being configured so that the bottom surface area is located at the bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 when the frame 0104 is installed in the storm sewer inlet 0102;

the inlet filter 0100 configured so that during an overflow condition wherein the top of the feed stream 0108 is at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202, the inlet filter 0100 discharges an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 through at least one aperture 0304 in the inlet filter 0100, the elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprising a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filter material 0202, optionally the at least one aperture 0304 configured to pass smaller objects in the solid materials and retain larger objects in the solid materials;

the inlet filter 0100 comprises an overflow outlet 0302, optionally the overflow outlet 0302 is configured to permit water that enters the inlet entrance to exit the frame 0104 without passing through the filter material 0202 when an overflow condition exists, the overflow condition occurring when the fluid level of a fluid entering the inlet entrance is at a higher elevation than the top 0128 of the filter material 0202;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the filter material 0202 extends from the bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and up to the bottom of an overflow outlet 0302 of the inlet filter 0100, optionally the bottom of the overflow outlet 0302 is at least 2 inches vertically down from the top of the frame 0104 when the bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 is resting on a horizontal surface;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the inlet filter comprises an overflow outlet 0302 above the filter material 0202 or above and adjacent to the filter material, the overflow outlet comprising at least one aperture (e.g., one and only one aperture, at least two apertures, a plurality of apertures, or a combination thereof) that is at least 1, 2 or 3 inches high, no more than 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 inches high; or a combination thereof;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the inlet filter comprises an overflow outlet 0302 above the filter material 0202; the overflow outlet configured to prevent the inlet filter from clogging, for example, due to excess sediment, debris, floatables or any combination thereof; optionally as a result of the excess sediment, debris, floatables or any combination thereof attaching to the feed stream inlet of the inlet filter, entrance surface of the inlet filter, front of the inlet filter, or any combination thereof; optionally thereby preventing flooding or pooling of stormwater, for example, at or adjacent to the storm sewer inlet, the inlet filter, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the filter material 0202 can be removed from the inlet filter 0100 and replaced with a replacement filter material 0202; or

any combination thereof;

5. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the exterior of the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that an angle 0804 between the top exterior surface 0806 of the inlet filter 0100 and the bottom exterior surface 0808 of the inlet filter 0100 is 30 degrees, or at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 degrees, no more than 20, 25, 30, 35, 45 or 50 degrees, or any combination thereof;

the exterior of the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that a vertical cross-section of the wedge-shape of the frame 0104, the cross-section extending from the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 to the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104, is a right triangle with the top of the frame 0104 being the hypotenuse of the right triangle; or

any combination thereof.

6. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) configured to retain floatable solid materials that can pass through the frame 0104;

the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) configured to maintain the filter material 0202 in an operational configuration, optionally when the filter material 0202 is in the operational configuration, the filter material 0202 is positioned to filter a fluid passing through the frame 0104, positioned adjacent to the frame 0104, positioned between the frame 0104 and the object retention structure 0306, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306, the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising spaced apertures, at least one, at least 50%, 60, 70, 80, or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 by area, some of or all of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 or on average the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 having a smaller cross-sectional open area, a smaller aperture length 0308, a smaller aperture width 0310, or any combination thereof, when compared to at least one, the smallest, the largest, some of or all of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 or the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 on average;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures or the spaced apertures on average have a cross-sectional open area of 36 square inches, or at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 square inches, no more than 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 55 square inches, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture length 0308 of 6 inches, or at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, or no more than 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture width 0310 of 6 inches, or at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, or no more than 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture width 0310 of an aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture;

or

any combination thereof.

7. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104, any component of the inlet filter 0100 or any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100 described in this disclosure) configured to fit completely in the storm sewer 0130 (e.g., storm sewer inlet 0102);

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104, any component of the inlet filter 0100 or any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100 described in this disclosure) configured so that it does not protrude from the storm sewer 0130 (e.g., storm sewer inlet 0102);

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104, any component of the inlet filter 0100 or any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100 described in this disclosure) configured so that it does not protrude outside the storm sewer 0130 (e.g., storm sewer inlet 0102) to a distance of more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

8. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the frame 0104) configured to retain floatable solid materials (e.g., solid materials too large to pass through apertures in the inlet filter 0100 (e.g. frame 0104)) that pass through the feed stream inlet 0106 and into the inner cavity 0120 of the inlet filter 0100;

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the frame 0104) configured to retain floatable solid materials (e.g., solid materials too large to pass through apertures in the inlet filter 0100 (e.g. frame 0104)) in the inner cavity 0120 of the inlet filter 0100;

the inlet filter 0100 configured to maintain the filter material 0202 in an operational configuration, optionally when the filter material 0202 is in the operational configuration, the filter material 0202 is positioned to filter a fluid passing through the frame 0104, positioned adjacent to the frame 0104, positioned on an inner surface of the frame 0104, positioned so that a fluid exiting the inner cavity 0120 of the frame 0104 under conditions that do not constitute an overflow condition will pass through the filter material 0202 before passing through at least one, a plurality of, or all of the apertures of the frame 0104, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have a cross-sectional open area of 9 square inches, or at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 square inches, no more than 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 square inches, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture length 0308 of 3 inches, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture width 0310 of 3 inches, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture width 0310 of an aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture;

or

any combination thereof.

9. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured to hold or retain the filter material 0202 (e.g., in an operational configuration relative to the inlet filter 0100);

the filter cartridge 0134 being configured to be inserted and removed from the inlet filter 0100;

the filter cartridge 0134 being configured to be opened to permit access to the filter material 0202 held by the filter cartridge 0134, to permit the filter material 0202 to be removed, to permit the filter material 0202 to be replaced, or any combination thereof;

the filter cartridge 0134 being configured to be closed to retain the filter material 0202 or replacement filter material 0202 in a desired operational position or configuration with respect to the inlet filter 0100;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented with respect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 can be opened, closed, inserted, removed, replaced or any combination thereof by a user 0136 through the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100, optionally without needing to open a manhole, optionally without needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented with respect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 can be opened by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102, optionally without needing to open a manhole, optionally without needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented with respect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 is located adjacent to the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented with respect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134, a filter material 0202 held or retained by the filter cartridge 0134, or any combination thereof can be installed, removed, replaced or any combination thereof (e.g., for use with the inlet filter 0100) by a user 0136 (e.g., through the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100, through the sewer inlet or any combination thereof), optionally while the inlet filter 0100 is positioned in an operational configuration (e.g., configuration in which the inlet filter 0100 could operate if the filter were operably installed to filter the feed stream 0108), at least partially in a storm sewer inlet 0102, fully in a storm sewer inlet 0102, installed in the storm sewer inlet 0102 or a combination thereof;

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured to retain the filter material 0202, the filter cartridge configured so that the filter material can be replaced by a user after removing the filter cartridge from an aperture 1304 in a side (e.g., either side) of the inlet filter;

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured to retain the filter material 0202, the filter cartridge 0134 configured so that the filter material 0202 can be replaced by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102 while the inlet filter 0100 is installed in the storm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented with respect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 can be removed from the inlet filter 0100 by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102, optionally without needing to open a manhole, optionally without needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented with respect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 can be installed in the inlet filter 0100 by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102, optionally without needing to open a manhole, optionally without needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

10. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a lock 0132;

the lock 0132 configured to prevent removal of the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102 while the lock 0132 is in a locked configuration;

the lock 0132 configured to permit removal of the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102 while the lock 0132 is in an unlocked configuration;

the lock 0132 is configured to be coupled (e.g., permanently coupled, reversibly coupled, or removably coupled) to the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the frame 0104 of the inlet filter 0100);

the lock 0132 comprises at least one protrusion, the at least one protrusion protruding past the frame 0104 when the lock 0132 is in a locked configuration, the at least one protrusion not protruding past the frame 0104 when the lock 0132 is in an unlocked configuration, the at least one protrusion being rotatable relative to the frame 0104, the at least one protrusion configured to protrude beyond the frame 0104, the at least one protrusion configured to be retracted so that the at least one protrusion does not protrude beyond the frame 0104, or any combination thereof;

or

any combination thereof.

11. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of metal, metal alloy, wire, or any combination thereof (e.g., metal wire) that has been bent into a wedge shape and optionally opposite ends of the wire have been coupled together;

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a polymer (e.g., plastic, thermoplastic, rubber, a polymer material that can be molded into the form of the frame 0104, or any combination thereof);

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of any material that has a flexibility, rigidity, ductility, yield strength, compressive strength, tensile strength or any combination thereof so that when the frame 0104 is wedged into a storm sewer inlet 0102 and compressed between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102, the frame 0104 will remain in an operative, orientation or combination thereof(e.g., in the storm sewer inlet 0102) during expected operational conditions, during expected design conditions, during regulatorily specified conditions, against a specified velocity of water, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of any material that has a flexibility, rigidity, ductility, yield strength, compressive strength, tensile strength or any combination thereof so that when the frame 0104 is wedged into a storm sewer inlet 0102 and compressed between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102, the frame 0104 will remain in an operative, orientation or combination thereof (e.g., in the storm sewer inlet 0102) as water enters the storm sewer inlet 0102 at a velocity corresponding to the velocity of water entering the storm sewer 0130 during a flood event in which an elevation of the flood water corresponds to the elevation of flood water during a 5 year, 10 year, 25 year, 100 year, 500 year, or 1000 year flood as calculated by applicable regulations for the location of the storm sewer 0130 at the time that the inlet filter 0100 is installed;

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104) configured so that when the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104) is wedged into a storm sewer inlet 0102 and compressed between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102, the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104) will remain in an operative, orientation or combination thereof (e.g., in the storm sewer inlet 0102) during expected operational conditions, during expected design conditions, during regulatorily specified conditions, against a specified velocity of water, while operating to filter a feed stream 0108 (e.g., comprising water and solid materials) entering the storm sewer inlet 0102 (e.g., as a result of rain or flooding), while operating to filter a feed stream 0108 (e.g., water and solid materials) entering the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., as a result of rain or flooding), or any combination thereof;

or

any combination thereof.

12. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the filter material 0202 comprising a material configured to filter a feed stream 0108 entering the inlet filter 0100, the filter material 0202 retaining solid materials in the feed stream 0108 to provide a retentate 0138, the filter material 0202 passing fluid in the feed stream 0108 to provide a filtrate, the inlet filter 0100 configured to discharge the filtrate to the storm sewer 0130;

the filter material 0202 comprising a fabric;

the filter material 0202 comprising a filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric) having a weight per area equal to 3.1 to 3.5 ounces per square yard (e.g., as measured according to ASTM D5261-10(2018));

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric) having a weight per area equal to at least 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, or 3.5 ounces per square yard, no more than 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 ounces per square yard, or any combination thereof as measured according to ASTM D5261-10(2018);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric) having an apparent opening size (AOS) equivalent to or greater than the apparent opening size of a #50 US sieve filter material 0202 (or equivalent or greater than approximately 0.297 mm apparent opening size) as measured according to ASTM D4751-20 (e.g., a #45 US sieve filter or #40 US sieve filter or any US sieve # smaller than #50 has a greater apparent opening size than a #50 US sieve filter);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric) having an apparent opening size (AOS) equal to at least the apparent opening size of a #60, #50, #45, or #40 US sieve filter material 0202 (or at least 0.250, 0.297, 0.354 or 0.400 mm), no more than the apparent opening size of a #50, #45, #40 or #35 US sieve filter material 0202 (or no more than 0.297, 0.354, 0.400 or 0.500 mm), or any combination thereof as measured according to ASTM D4751-20 (e.g., a #45 US sieve filter or #40 US sieve filter or any US sieve # smaller than #50 has a greater apparent opening size than a #50 US sieve filter);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric) having a water flow rate equal to or greater than 150 gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2 (or 6095 lb/min/m{circumflex over ( )}2) as measured according to ASTM D4491/D4491M-17;

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric) having a water flow rate equal to at least 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 155, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375 or 400 gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2, no more than 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 155, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400 or 425 gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2, or any combination thereof, as measured according to ASTM D4491/D4491M-17;

the filter material 0202 comprising a monofilament fabric;

or

any combination thereof.

13. Any inlet filter disclosed in this disclosure, or the inlet filter of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter comprising any component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of components disclosed in this disclosure, any portion of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portions of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portions of components disclosed in this disclosure, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter comprising any component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of components disclosed in this disclosure, any portion of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portions of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portions of components disclosed in this disclosure, or any combination thereof; optionally the inlet filter comprising any component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of components disclosed in this disclosure, any portion of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portions of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portions of components disclosed in this disclosure, or any combination thereof is configured to have any configuration disclosed in this disclosure;

or

any combination thereof.

14. A method 0900, the method comprising:

inserting 0902 at least one inlet filter 0100 (e.g., an inlet filter, one and only one inlet filter, a plurality of inlet filters comprising the inlet filter, the inlet filter of any preceding clause, or any combination thereof) into a storm sewer inlet 0102;

optionally the at least one inlet filter comprising an inlet filter that is one of a plurality of inlet filters inserted into the storm sewer inlet (e.g., overlapping, adjacent to each other, side-by-side, coupled to each other, connected, fixed to each other, with a narrow portion of the inlet filters inserted into the storm sewer inlet and the thick portion being too thick to pass through (e.g., partially through or completely through) the storm sewer inlet; or any combination thereof) the filters cooperating to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewer inlet;

using 0904 the at least one inlet filter 0100 to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

15. A method 0900 of using at least one inlet filter 0100 (e.g., an inlet filter, one and only one inlet filter, a plurality of inlet filters comprising the inlet filter, the inlet filter of any preceding clause, any portion of an inlet filter, any combination of portions of an inlet filter, or any combination thereof), the method comprising:

inserting 0902 the inlet filter 0100 into a storm sewer inlet 0102;

inserting 0902 an additional inlet filter 0100 into the storm sewer inlet 0102;

removing the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

locking a lock 0132 of the inlet filter 0100 so that the inlet filter 0100 cannot be removed from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

removing a filter cartridge (e.g., the filter cartridge) from the inlet filter 0100 comprising or retaining a filter material 0202, the filter material 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

installing a replacement filter cartridge into an operable configuration relative to the inlet filter 0100, the replacement filter cartridge comprising or retaining a replacement filter material 0202, the replacement filter material 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

replacing a filter cartridge comprising or retaining a filter material 0202, the filter material 0202 used to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

replacing a filter material 0202, the filter material 0202 used to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

opening a filter cartridge (e.g., the filter cartridge) of the inlet filter 0100; installing a filter material 0202 (e.g., the filter material 0202) in the filter cartridge; replacing a filter material 0202 (e.g., the filter material 0202) in the filter cartridge; removing a filter material 0202 (e.g., the filter material 0202) from the filter cartridge; installing a replacement filter material 0202 (e.g., in the filter cartridge); the filter material 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100; the opening the filter cartridge, the installing the filter material 0202, the replacing the filter material 0202, the installing the replacement filter material 0202, or any combination thereof being performed by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102, through the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100, from a position in front of a curb where the storm sewer inlet 0102 is located, without opening or entering a manhole for the storm sewer 0130 comprising the storm sewer inlet 0102, or any combination thereof; the filter cartridge comprising or retaining a filter material 0202; or any combination thereof;

removing a filter material 0202 (e.g., the filter material 0202) from the inlet filter 0100, the filter material 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

installing a replacement filter material 0202 into an operable configuration relative to the inlet filter 0100 comprising a replacement filter material 0202, the replacement filter material 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

unlocking a lock 0132 (e.g., the lock 0132) of the inlet filter 0100 so that the inlet filter 0100 can be removed from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

using 0904 the inlet filter 0100 for filtering a feed stream 0108 entering the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

16. The method of any preceding clause:

the filtering comprising:

using the feed stream inlet 0106 to receive the feed stream 0108 comprising a fluid (e.g., water) and solid materials carried by the fluid;

using the filter material 0202 to filter the feed stream 0108, thereby providing a filtrate stream 0126 comprising fluid and solid materials that can pass through the filter material 0202 and a retentate 0138 comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the filter material 0202;

discharging the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 and at least a portion of any solid materials that are not retained by the inlet filter 0100;

retaining solid materials in the retentate 0138 in the inner cavity 0120 of the inlet filter 0100;

the inlet filter 0100 configured so that during an overflow condition wherein the top of the feed stream 0108 is at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202, the inlet filter 0100 discharges a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202 through at least one aperture 0304 in the inlet filter 0100, optionally the at least one aperture 0304 configured to pass smaller objects in the solid materials and retain larger objects in the solid materials;

optionally, during an overflow condition wherein the top of the feed stream 0108 is at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202, discharging a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202 through at least one aperture 0304 (e.g., a plurality of apertures) in the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the frame 0104 of the inlet filter 0100), optionally the at least one aperture 0304 configured to pass smaller objects in the solid materials and retain larger objects in the solid materials;

or

any combination thereof.

17. The method of any preceding clause:

the method comprising inserting a plurality of inlet filters 0100 into the storm sewer inlet 0102, the step of inserting the plurality of inlet filters into the storm sewer comprising the step of inserting the inlet filter 0100 into a storm sewer inlet 0102, the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprising the inlet filter 0100 and at least one additional inlet filter 0100, each of the at least one additional inlet filters 0100 comprising corresponding components that correspond to the components of the inlet filter 0100;

optionally the corresponding components configured as the components of the inlet filter 0100 are configured;

optionally the corresponding components configured analogously to the components of the inlet filter 0100;

optionally each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 are configured to be joined (e.g., overlapped, fastened together, positioned adjacently, or any combination thereof) to filter a feed stream 0108 that enters the storm sewer inlet 0102, thereby providing a filtered stream and discharge the filtered stream to the storm sewer 0130 comprising the storm sewer inlet 0102;

optionally each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 are configured to be joined (e.g., overlapped, fastened together, positioned adjacently, or any combination thereof) to function as a single inlet filter 0100 (e.g., a single continuous inlet filter 0100) for the storm sewer inlet 0102;

optionally each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 are configured to be joined (e.g., overlapped, fastened together, positioned adjacently, or any combination thereof) to filter at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 99% by mass or volumetric flow rate) of a feed stream 0108 entering the storm sewer inlet 0102 if the level of the feed stream 0108 is lower than an overflow outlet 0302 of each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100;

or

any combination thereof.

18. The method of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 or any inlet filter 0100 being the inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause or any filter described in this disclosure.

19. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100, any component of the inlet filter 0100, any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100, or any combination thereof being configured to perform the method, any step of the method, any combination of steps of the method, any portion of a step of the method, or any combination of portions of any step or steps of the method described in any preceding clause or in this disclosure.

20. A system comprising:

a plurality of inlet filters 0100 configured to be coupled together to filter a feed stream 0108 to a storm sewer inlet 0102;

each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprising:

a frame 0104;

filter material 0202;

a feed stream inlet 0106 configured to receive the feed stream 0108, the feed stream 0108 comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid; and

a filtrate outlet 0124 configured to discharge a filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter material 0202 and any solid materials that pass through the filter material 0202;

the frame 0104 being configured so that an exterior of the frame 0104 is shaped like a wedge, the frame 0104 comprising a thick portion 0110 configured so that the thick portion 0110 is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle 0802 and the frame 0104 comprising a narrow portion 0112 opposite the thick portion 0110, the narrow portion 0112 configured so that the narrow portion 0112 is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle 0802; and

the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprising the feed stream inlet 0106.

21. The system of any preceding clause, the system comprising a connecting filter 1402 comprising a first side portion 1408 and a second side portion 1410 opposite the first side portion;

the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprising a first inlet filter 1404 and optionally a second inlet filter 1406;

the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402 configured to be coupled to the first inlet filter 1404 and optionally to slidably engage the first inlet filter 1404; and

optionally the second side portion 1410 of the connecting filter 1402 configured to be coupled to the second inlet filter 1406 and optionally to slidably engage the second inlet filter 1406.

22. The system of clause 21, the system configured so that, when (i) the first inlet filter 1404 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402 and optionally (ii) the second inlet filter 1406 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with a second side portion 1410 of the connecting filter 1402, then the first inlet filter 1404, and the connecting filter 1402, and optionally the second inlet filter 1406 form a combined inlet filter 1412 having a width 1414, optionally (a) the width 1414 being adjustable to a first width that is at least 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 feet and up to 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 feet and a second width that is at least 7.25, 8.25, 9.25, 10.25 or 11.25 feet and up to 8.25, 9.25, 10.25, 11.25 or 12.25 feet, the first width being smaller than the second width, and optionally (b) the width being adjustable by sliding the first inlet filter 1404 relative to the connecting filter 1402, optionally sliding the second inlet filter 1406 relative to the connecting filter 1402 or any combination thereof

23. The system of any preceding clause, the connecting filter 1402 being an inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters 0100.

24. The system of clause 23, the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 being configured so that a lower surface 1502 of a top portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 can be spaced from an upper surface 1504 of a top portion of the frame 0104 of the first inlet filter 1404, an upper surface 1506 of a top portion of the frame of the second inlet filter 1406, or any combination thereof, optionally thereby facilitating slidability of the connecting filter 1402 relative to the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406 or any combination thereof.

25. The system of any one of clauses 23 to 24, a frontal top portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 being separable from a front portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 to provide a discontinuity in the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402, the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 comprising a flexible material configured to permit the frontal top portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402 to be moved away from the front portion of the frame 0104 of the connecting filter 1402.

26. The system of any preceding clause, the connecting filter 1402 configured to only partially or to completely wrap around the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406, or any combination thereof.

27. The system of any preceding clause, the connecting filter 1402 configured to only partially wrap around the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406, or any combination thereof.

28. The system of any preceding clause, the system configured so that, when (i) the first inlet filter 1404 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with the first side portion 1408 of the connecting filter 1402 and optionally (ii) the second inlet filter 1406 is coupled to and optionally slidably engaged with a second side portion 1410 of the connecting filter 1402, then the first inlet filter 1404, and the connecting filter 1402 and optionally the second inlet filter 1406 form a combined inlet filter, the combined inlet filter comprising:

a combined frame 0104;

combined filter material 0202;

a combined feed stream inlet 0106 configured to receive a combined feed stream 0108, the combined feed stream 0108 comprising a combined fluid and combined solid materials carried by the combined fluid; and

a combined filtrate outlet 0124 configured to discharge a combined filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of the combined fluid in the combined feed stream 0108 that passes through the combined filter material 0202 and any combined solid materials that pass through the combined filter material 0202;

the combined frame 0104 being configured so that a combined exterior of the combined frame 0104 is shaped like a wedge, the combined frame 0104 comprising a combined thick portion 0110 configured so that the combined thick portion 0110 is too thick to pass through a particular reference rectangle 0802 and the combined frame 0104 comprising a combined narrow portion 0112 opposite the combined thick portion 0110, the combined narrow portion 0112 configured so that the combined narrow portion 0112 is thin enough to be inserted into the particular reference rectangle 0802; and

the combined thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprising the combined feed stream inlet 0106.

29. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the frame 0104 being configured to form an inner cavity 0120 within the frame 0104, the inlet filter configured to retain floatable solid materials in the inner cavity 0120.

30. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the inlet filter comprising an overflow outlet 0302, the overflow outlet configured to allow an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 to be discharged from the inlet filter without passing through the filter material 0202, the elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprising a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filter material 0202.

31. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures 0304, the inlet filter comprising an object retention structure 0306, the object retention structure 0306 configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter, at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 are smaller than an average size by area of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104.

32. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the inlet filter being configured so that the filter material 0202 can be removed from the inlet filter and replaced with a replacement filter material 0202.

33. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the exterior of the inlet filter is configured so that an angle between a top exterior surface 0806 of the inlet filter and a bottom exterior surface 0808 of the inlet filter is from 15 to 45 degrees.

34. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures 0304, and optionally at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 have an aperture length 0308 and optionally an aperture width 0310 equal to 6 to 8 inches, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture, and the aperture width 0310 of the aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture.

35. The system of clause 34, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the inlet filter comprising an object retention structure 0306, the object retention structure 0306 configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter and can pass through the spaced apertures 0304 in the frame 0104.

36. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures 0304, and optionally at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures 0304 have an aperture length 0308 and optionally an aperture width 0310 equal to 1 to 5 inches, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture, and the aperture width 0310 being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture.

37. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the inlet filter comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured to retain the filter material 0202, optionally the filter cartridge 0134 configured so that the filter material 0202 can be replaced by a user 0136 after removing the filter cartridge 0134 from an aperture in a side of the inlet filter.

38. The system of any preceding clause, a lockable inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprising a lock 0132, the lock 0132 configured to prevent removal of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 from the a storm sewer inlet 0102 while the lock 0132 is in a locked configuration.

39. The system of any preceding clause, for each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and a portion of an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104, the portion of the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 being positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104 and adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 being opposite the feed stream inlet 0106.

40. The system of any preceding clause, at least one inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters 0100 being the inlet filter of a preceding clause.

41. The system of any preceding clause, each inlet filter 0100 in the plurality of inlet filters 0100 being the inlet filter of a preceding clause.

42. A method or the method of any preceding clause, the method comprising:

inserting the at least one inlet filter of any preceding clause, the system of any preceding clause or a combined inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet 0102, optionally the combined inlet filter comprising the connecting filter 1402, the plurality of inlet filters 0100, the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406, the at least one inlet filter or any combination thereof;

optionally adjusting (e.g., extending or retracting or any combination thereof) the width of the at least one inlet filter, the system or the combined inlet filter, optionally the adjusting the width occurs by sliding the first inlet filter 1404, the second inlet filter 1406 or any combination thereof relative to the connecting filter 1402, optionally the adjusting (e.g., extending or retracting or any combination thereof) the width of the combined inlet filter occurs after the system or the combined inlet filter has been inserted into the a storm sewer inlet 0102;

and

optionally the system or the combined inlet filter is configured to cover at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99 wt. % and up to 100 wt. % by width or area) of the width or cross-sectional area of the a storm sewer inlet 0102, optionally, the cross-sectional area is taken in a plane parallel to a feed inlet surface of the system or the combined inlet filter; optionally the cross-sectional area is taken in a direction perpendicular to the average direction by mass flow rate from which fluid is intended to flow into the a storm sewer inlet 0102, the system, the combined inlet filter, or any combination thereof.

Although the invention has been described above and in the drawings using an inlet filter having a frame that is generally the shape of a triangular prism, the frame is not limited to this shape. For example, other wedge shapes can also be used. Moreover, the frame can have various shapes that are thick at one end taper to a narrower opposite end. Additionally, although the top and bottom exterior surfaces of the wedge that engage a storm sewer inlet can be planar, they can also be curved, rounded, convex, concave, or any combination thereof.

Additionally, although the frame need not be shaped exactly like a rectangular prism, providing the frame with the shape of rectangular prism shape can facilitate insertion of the inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet and retention of the inlet filter in the storm sewer inlet. For example, without being bound by theory, if the top exterior surface and bottom exterior surface of the frame are generally planar, as the inlet filter is inserted into the storm sewer inlet and against top and bottom interior surfaces of the storm sewer inlet, respectively, the top and bottom exterior surfaces of the frame can be flexed inwardly as the inlet filter is compressed by being pushed against the top and bottom interior surfaces of the storm sewer inlet. Furthermore, as the top and bottom exterior surface of the frame are flexed inwardly, they will exert a force against the top and bottom interior surfaces of the storm sewer inlet, and this force can increase the frictional force that must be overcome to extract the inlet filter from between storm sewer inlet. Meanwhile, a stream of fluid rushing into the storm sewer inlet and the inlet filter will be unable to push the inlet filter into the storm sewer because the thicker end of the wedge is too thick to pass through the storm sewer inlet.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described using the word “comprising,” additional embodiments can be created by replacing the word “comprising” with “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of.”

Additionally, the phrase “consisting essentially of” can be replaced by the term “comprising” or “consisting of” to form additional embodiments.

Furthermore, the phrase “consisting of” can be replaced by the term “comprising” or “consisting essentially of” to form additional embodiments.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described using a first range with a first set of end points, additional embodiments can be created by replacing the first range with a narrower range whose endpoints are selected from any value contained in the first range.

Although embodiment of the invention have been described using a specific direction relative to a reference direction, additional embodiments can be created by indicating that the specific direction can vary from the reference direction by no more than 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described using the phrase “at least a portion” or “a portion,” in additional embodiments, any of these phrases can be replaced by at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99 and up to 100% by number, length, width, thickness, cross-sectional area, surface area, volume, weight, mass flow rate or volumetric flow rate of an item, items, a substance, substances, a characteristic, or characteristics to which the phrase “at least a portion” or “a portion” are referring. For example, “at least a portion of the fluid” can be replaced with “at least 50% by mass flow rate of the fluid” or “at least 90% and up to 100% by volumetric flow rate of the fluid.”

Although embodiments of the invention have been described with respect to a value, a lower end point of a range, an upper endpoint of a range, or any combination thereof, in additional embodiments, the value, the lower end point of the range, the upper endpoint of the range, or any combination thereof can be replaced by a replacement value that is 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 or 1.5 times the value, the lower endpoint of the range or the upper endpoint of the range expressly described in the application. For example, if a value of 1 is described in the application, in additional embodiments, the value can be replaced by a range from 0.5 to 1.5. As another example, if a range from 1 to 10 is described in the application, in additional embodiments, the range can be replaced by a range from 0.5 to 15, a range from 0.5 to 5, a range from 1.5 to 5, or a range from 1.5 to 15.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to numbers (e.g., first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, etc.), the numbers are generally nominal numbers, unless otherwise specified expressly or by context. In other words, the numbers are used for naming purposes to distinguish from another item, without reference to order or even total number. Nonetheless, in some embodiments, any number can be deemed a cardinal number that specifies the number of items referenced. Furthermore, in some embodiments, any number can be deemed an ordinal number that specifies the order of an item among other items. In some embodiments, any number can be deemed as a nominal number, a cardinal number, an ordinal number or any combination thereof

Although embodiments of methods have been described with steps in a specific order, additional embodiments can be provided in which any listed steps occur simultaneously, or in a different order that is provided by substituting the position of one step for the position of another step. Additionally, although embodiments of methods have been described with specific combinations of steps, in additional embodiments, any step or any combination of steps can be omitted from the method, any step described in this disclosure can be added to the method, or any combination thereof.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to materials or classes of materials, for example, polymers, metals or metal alloys, additional embodiments can be formed in which the inlet filter, any component of the inlet filter, or any combination of components of the inlet filter comprise, consist essentially of, consist of, or are made using any material (e.g., metal, metal alloy, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, polymer, rubber, plastic, thermoplastic, ceramic material, fiber, wood, rope, cable, wire or any combination thereof) that is capable of performing at least one of, any combination of, or all of the functions described or implied in this disclosure for the inlet filter, the component of the inlet filter, or the combination of components of the inlet filter.

Examples of an inlet filter being in a storm sewer inlet include, but are not limited to, the inlet filter being at least partially in the storm sewer inlet, the inlet filter being partially in the storm sewer inlet, the inlet filter being completely in the storm sewer inlet except for a protruding portion of the inlet filter that protrudes from the storm sewer inlet by 0 to no more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, the inlet filter being completely in the storm sewer inlet, or any combination thereof. Additionally, for any embodiment in which an inlet filter, component of an inlet filter, or combination of a components of an inlet filter is described as being in the storm sewer or storm sewer inlet, additional embodiments can be formed in which the inlet filter, component of the inlet filter, or combination of the components of the inlet filter is at least partially in the storm sewer inlet, is partially in the storm sewer inlet, is completely in the storm sewer inlet except for a protruding portion of the inlet filter that protrudes from the storm sewer inlet by 0 to no more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, is completely in the storm sewer inlet, or any combination thereof. Additionally, for any embodiment in which an inlet filter, component of an inlet filter, or combination of a components of an inlet filter is described as being in the storm sewer inlet, additional embodiments can be formed in which another of the inlet filter, component of the inlet filter, or combination of the components of the inlet filter is in the storm sewer. Furthermore, for any embodiment in which an inlet filter, component of an inlet filter, or combination of a components of an inlet filter is described as being in the storm sewer, additional embodiments can be formed in which another of the inlet filter, component of the inlet filter, or combination of the components of the inlet filter in the storm sewer inlet.

Although embodiments have been described in which a first element or plurality of elements is smaller than a second element or plurality of elements, in additional embodiments, the first element or plurality of elements can be smaller by length, width, area, in terms of the size of the diameter of a spherical particle that can pass through the first element or plurality of elements versus the second element or plurality of elements, by volume, by mass or any combination thereof. Additionally, at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the first plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combination thereof; no more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the first plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combination thereof; or any combination thereof can be smaller than the average size of the second plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number, or any combination thereof.

Although embodiments have been described in which a first element or plurality of elements is larger than a second element or plurality of elements, in additional embodiments, the first element or plurality of elements can be larger by length, width, area, in terms of the size of the diameter of a spherical particle that can pass through the first element or plurality of elements versus the second element or plurality of elements, by volume, by mass or any combination thereof. Additionally, at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the first plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combination thereof; no more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the first plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combination thereof; or any combination thereof can be larger than the average size of the second plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number, or any combination thereof

Although the invention hereof has been described by way of preferred embodiments, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a plurality of inlet filters configured to be coupled together to filter a feed stream to a storm sewer inlet, the plurality of inlet filters comprising a first inlet filter and a connecting filter; a first side portion of the connecting filter configured to slidably engage the first inlet filter, thereby forming at least a portion of a combined inlet filter, the combined inlet filter comprising the first inlet filter and the connecting filter; each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters comprising: a frame; filter material; a feed stream inlet configured to receive the feed stream, the feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid; and a filtrate outlet downstream of the feed stream inlet and configured to discharge a filtrate stream comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream that passes through the filter material and any solid materials that pass through the filter material; the frame being configured so that an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge, the frame comprising a thick portion configured so that the thick portion is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle and the frame comprising a narrow portion opposite the thick portion, the narrow portion configured so that the narrow portion is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle; the thick portion of the frame comprising the feed stream inlet; and the system configured so that a frontal top portion of the frame of the connecting filter is separable from a front portion of the frame of the connecting filter to provide a discontinuity in the frame of the connecting filter, the frame of the connecting filter comprising a flexible material configured to permit the frontal top portion of the frame of the connecting filter to be moved away from the front portion of the frame of the connecting filter.
 2. The system of claim 1, the connecting filter comprising the first side portion and a second side portion opposite the first side portion; the plurality of inlet filters comprising the first inlet filter and a second inlet filter; the first side portion of the connecting filter configured to be coupled to and to slidably engage the first inlet filter; and the second side portion of the connecting filter configured to be coupled to and to slidably engage the second inlet filter.
 3. The system of claim 2, the system configured so that, when the first inlet filter is coupled to and slidably engaged with the first side portion of the connecting filter and the second inlet filter is coupled to and slidably engaged with a second side portion of the connecting filter, then the first inlet filter, the connecting filter, and the second inlet filter form the combined inlet filter, the combined inlet filter having a width that is adjustable to a first width from 4 to 9 feet and a second width from 7.25 to 12.25 feet, the first width being smaller than the second width, and the width being adjustable by sliding the first inlet filter relative to the connecting filter, sliding the second inlet filter relative to the connecting filter or any combination thereof.
 4. The system of claim 2, the connecting filter being an inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters.
 5. The system of claim 4, the frame of the connecting filter being configured so that a lower surface of a top portion of the frame of the connecting filter can be spaced from an upper surface of a top portion of the frame of the first inlet filter, an upper surface of a top portion of the frame of the second inlet filter, or any combination thereof, thereby facilitating slidability of the connecting filter relative to the first inlet filter, the second inlet filter or any combination thereof
 6. The system of claim 1, the plurality of inlet filters comprising the first inlet filter, the connecting filter and a second inlet filter; the first side portion of the connecting filter configured to slidably engage the portion of the first inlet filter and a second side portion of the connecting filter configured to slidably engage a portion of the second inlet filter, thereby forming the combined inlet filter.
 7. The system of claim 2, the connecting filter configured to completely wrap around the first inlet filter, the second inlet filter, or any combination thereof.
 8. The system of claim 2, the connecting filter configured to only partially wrap around the first inlet filter, the second inlet filter, or any combination thereof.
 9. The system of claim 2, the system configured so that, when the first inlet filter is coupled to and slidably engaged with the first side portion of the connecting filter and the second inlet filter is coupled to and slidably engaged with a second side portion of the connecting filter, then the first inlet filter, the connecting filter and the second inlet filter form the combined inlet filter, the combined inlet filter comprising: a combined frame; combined filter material; a combined feed stream inlet configured to receive a combined feed stream, the combined feed stream comprising a combined fluid and combined solid materials carried by the combined fluid; and a combined filtrate outlet downstream of the combined feed stream inlet and configured to discharge a combined filtrate stream comprising at least a portion of the combined fluid in the combined feed stream that passes through the combined filter material and any combined solid materials that pass through the combined filter material; the combined frame being configured so that a combined exterior of the combined frame is shaped like a wedge, the combined frame comprising a combined thick portion configured so that the combined thick portion is too thick to pass through a particular reference rectangle and the combined frame comprising a combined narrow portion opposite the combined thick portion, the combined narrow portion configured so that the combined narrow portion is thin enough to be inserted into the particular reference rectangle; and the combined thick portion of the frame comprising the combined feed stream inlet.
 10. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the frame being configured to form an inner cavity within the frame, the inlet filter configured to retain floatable solid materials in the inner cavity.
 11. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the inlet filter comprising an overflow outlet, the overflow outlet configured to allow an elevated portion of the feed stream to be discharged from the inlet filter without passing through the filter material, the elevated portion of the feed stream comprising a portion of the feed stream at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top of the filter material.
 12. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the frame comprising spaced apertures, the inlet filter comprising an object retention structure, the object retention structure configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter, at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure are smaller than an average size by area of the spaced apertures of the frame.
 13. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the inlet filter being configured so that the filter material can be removed from the inlet filter and replaced with a replacement filter material.
 14. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the exterior of the inlet filter is configured so that an angle between a top exterior surface of the inlet filter and a bottom exterior surface of the inlet filter is from 15 to 45 degrees.
 15. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the frame comprising spaced apertures, and at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the frame have an aperture length and an aperture width equal to 6 to 8 inches, the aperture length of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame that bound the aperture, and the aperture width of the aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length and being measured between two points on the frame that bound the aperture.
 16. The system of claim 7, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the inlet filter comprising an object retention structure, the object retention structure configured to retain floatable materials that enter the inlet filter and can pass through the spaced apertures in the frame.
 17. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the frame comprising spaced apertures, and at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures have an aperture length and an aperture width equal to 1 to 5 inches, the aperture length of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on the frame that bound the aperture, and the aperture width being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length and being measured between two points on the frame that bound the aperture.
 18. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the inlet filter comprising a filter cartridge configured to retain the filter material, the filter cartridge configured so that the filter material can be replaced by a user after removing the filter cartridge from an aperture in a side of the inlet filter.
 19. The system of claim 1, an inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters being a lockable inlet filter that comprises a lock, the lock configured to prevent removal of the plurality of inlet filters from the storm sewer inlet while the lock is in a locked configuration.
 20. The system of claim 1, for each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters, the filter material being positioned along a bottom surface of the frame and a portion of an upper surface of the frame, the portion of the upper surface of the frame being positioned in the narrow portion of the frame and adjacent to an insertion end of the frame, the insertion end of the frame being opposite the feed stream inlet.
 21. A system comprising: a plurality of inlet filters configured to be coupled together to filter a feed stream to a storm sewer inlet, the plurality of inlet filters comprising a first inlet filter, a second inlet filter and a connecting filter; each inlet filter in the plurality of inlet filters comprising: a frame; filter material; a feed stream inlet configured to receive the feed stream, the feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid; and a filtrate outlet down stream of the feed stream inlet and configured to discharge a filtrate stream comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed stream that passes through the filter material and any solid materials that pass through the filter material; the frame being configured so that an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge, the frame comprising a thick portion configured so that the thick portion is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle and the frame comprising a narrow portion opposite the thick portion, the narrow portion configured so that the narrow portion is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle; and the thick portion of the frame comprising the feed stream inlet; the connecting filter comprising a first side portion and a second side portion opposite the first side portion, the first side portion of the connecting filter configured to be coupled to and to slidably engage the first inlet filter, and the second side portion of the connecting filter configured to be coupled to and to slidably engage the second inlet filter; the frame of the connecting filter being configured so that a lower surface of a top portion of the frame of the connecting filter can be spaced from an upper surface of a top portion of the frame of the first inlet filter, an upper surface of a top portion of the frame of the second inlet filter, or any combination thereof, thereby facilitating slidability of the connecting filter relative to the first inlet filter, the second inlet filter or any combination thereof; and the system configured so that a frontal top portion of the frame of the connecting filter is separable from a front portion of the frame of the connecting filter to provide a discontinuity in the frame of the connecting filter, the frame of the connecting filter comprising a flexible material configured to permit the frontal top portion of the frame of the connecting filter to be moved away from the front portion of the frame of the connecting filter. 